Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors sales up 13% in 2014

MANILA, Philippines - Sales of the country’s group of vehicle importers rose 13 percent  in 2014 from a year ago due to the strong performance of both the  passenger car (PC) and light commercial vehicle (LCV) segments.   

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID)  said in a statement yesterday it sold a total of 35,565 vehicles last  year, higher than the 31,399 units sold in 2013.   

Boosting the AVID’s sales performance in 2014 was the PC segment with  sales reaching 18,467 units last year, up 14 percent from the  previous year’s sales of 16,143 units.   

The LCV segment also contributed to the group’s positive sales  performance, having sold 17,098 units last year, a 12 percent uptick  compared to the 15,256 units sold in 2013.   

For the month of December alone, AVID’s total sales, however, declined  23 percent to 2,687 units in 2014 from the previous year’s sale of 3,491  units.   

This as both PC and LCV segments posted year-on-year decreases in sales.    The group’s PC sales fell 23 percent to 1,386 units in December  last year from 1,795 units sold in 2013.   

The LCV segment also slid 23 percent with sales reaching 1,301  units in December 2014 from 1,696 units sold a year ago.   

Last week, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines  Inc. (CAMPI) said its combined sales with the Truck Manufacturers  Association Inc. reached 234,747 units in 2014, a 30 percent increase  from 181,283 units in 2013.   

As the country is seen to sustain its positive economic performance  and global oil prices continue to decline, the CAMPI is upbeat total  vehicle sales, including those of non-CAMPI members for 2015, would  exceed 300,000 units this year.   

The AVID also expects the industry to benefit from the  country’s favorable economic conditions.   

“AVID is confident the industry will continue its bullish stance for  2015 with another significant growth on the back of strong macro  fundamentals and brisk vehicle demand,” AVID president Ma. Fe Perez- Agudo said.